Window-cutting device for envelopes and bag-making machines



Sept. 27, 1966 a. EHLSCHEID WINDOW-CUTTING DEVICE FOR ENVELOPES ANDBAG-MAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1965 r n l lUIHIIINHH 2 @E Q am am 2 v a a 4 .W m Er. E Q mm H a i I g a Q mm IWWI Wa u w N 1 Q $1- a li@ a m M .a a A a a n E QN Em Inventor- Gwv ran 7. 4sews/0 Sept. 27. 19 e. EHLSCHEID WINDOW-CUTTING DEVICE FOR ENVELOPES ANDBAG-MAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1965 e E m N l S 0AM,

3,274,871 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 3,274,871 WINDOW-CUTTING DEVIQE FORENVELUPES AND BAG-MAKING MACHINES Giinter Ehlseheid, Niederhieber uberNeuwied, Germany, assigncr to Richard Winkler, Rengsdorf uber Neuwied,Germany, and Kurt lDunnbier, Gladbach, Germany Filed Jan. 19, 1965, Ser.No. 426,627 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 24, 1964, W36,040 8 Claims. ((1. 83-99) The present invention relates to awindow-cutting device of a machine for making envelopes, flat bags, etc.with several windows from stocks of blanks in the form of individualblanks or in the form of a continuous web of paper or of other suitablematerial. More particularly, the invention relates to a window-cuttingdevice including a cutting roller mounting several knives which coactwith a hard surfaced counter roller, the blanks to be out being guidedbetween the rollers to effect the cutting of the windows.

There are now known three principal types of windowcutting devices usinga cutting roller of the general type above referred to. According to onetype of cutting device, a suction roller disposed anterior of thedirection of travel of the blank transfers the blank to the cuttingroller which grips the leading edge of the blank by the action of theports of the suction roller. The blank is carried along by the cuttingroller for part of one revolution and transferred to a posterior suctionroller after the cutting of the window.

According to the second type of cutting device, the blank, which may bean individual blank or a web, is guided between the cutting roller andthe hard counter roller along a rectilinear tangential path in referenceto the rollers. In such an arrangement, suction ports for gripping andcarrying the leading edge of the blank may be omitted.

According to the third type of cutting device, the lead ing edge of theblank is gripped and carried along by the action of suction ports in thehard counter roller. In such an arrangement, the rotational speeds ofthe cutting roller and the counter roller must be synchronous.

It has been found that the cutting of several windows spaced apart inthe direction of travel of windows with window-cutting devices ashereinbefore described, presents considerable difficulties with respectto the control of the suction and the pressure supply. In particular,the control of the suction and the pressure for the ports associatedwith the first window-cutting knife is unsatisfactory since the portsassociated with the second and third window-cutting knives are not yetcovered by the blanks, especially when the blank is rectilinearly guidedor wrapped about the counter roller. Such difliculties with respect tothe suction and pressure control are of great practical importance sincethe use of envelopes and bags with several windows is rapidlyincreasing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedwindowcutting device of the general kind above referred to, the controlmeans of which controlling the suction and the pressure to effect theremoval of the cutouts and to retain the blanks in position, function ina reliable and timely manner for blanks of different sizes and shapesand for different window locations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedwindow-cutting device of the general type above referred to which can beconveniently and rapidly adjusted for different sizes and shapes ofblanks to be processed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedwindow-cutting device which includes, preferably, adjustable deflectingmeans for deflecting the leading edge of the blanks away from thewindowcutting roller of the device. Such deflecting means effectivelyprevents jamming of the blanks.

The above mentioned objects, features and advantages of the inventionand other objects, features and advantages which will be pointed outhereinafter, are attained by providing within the areas bounded byclosed cutting knives ports alternately connected at predeterminedintervals of time, preferably adjustable for each port, with a supply ofsuction air or pressure air, or with neither supply. The ports act uponthe leading edge of the blank and the connections for the ports arecontrolled by the rotation of the cutting roller. The locations of theports with respect to the locations of the cutting knives on the rotarycutting roller are adjustable in accordance with the size of the blanksto be cut so that the suction air and the pressure air will always actupon the leading edge of the blanks. To permit independent control ofthe suction air and the pressure air acting upon the severalwindow-cutting knives, a common control head is provided which includesseveral control rings, one for each knife. These rings rotate in unisonwith the cutting roller so that each ring alternately connects the portsfor the respective cutting knife with a suction conduit and a pressureconduit at predetermined time intervals or disconnects the ports fromthe conduits.

The control rings are preferably independently adjustable with respectto the respective window-cutting knife by individually turning the ringon bearing trunnions or journals of the cutting roller.

To grip the leading edge of the blank, a shell or sleeve segment pivotalabout the rotational axis of the cutting roller and including suctionports may be provided. Such segment permits a convenient varying of thespacing be tween the ports and the respective cutting knife. A scalecoacting with a pointer may also be provided to facilitate an accuratesetting of said spacing.

In arrangements in which the blank is tangentially guided past thecutting roller, the shell or sleeve segment, including suction ports,may be replaced by a shell or sleeve segment mounting springy deflectorsfor guiding the leading edge of each blank. This segment may also bepivotal about the center axis of the cutting roller and be equipped witha scale and a pointer to vary the spacing between the deflectors and thecutting knives.

Instead of varying the spacing between the knives andthe suction portsor deflectors by pivoting the segments carrying the deflectors orincluding the ports, the knives themselves may be pivotal or a membersupporting the knives may be pivotal.

In the accompanying drawing, several embodiments of the invention areshown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational side view, partly in section, of a cuttingroller of a window-cutting device, said roller mounting three closed orcontinuous cutting knives and carrying a blank for part of onerevolution, which blank is then transferred to a posterior suctionroller;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the middle portion of the cuttingroller as seen in the direction of arrow II in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken on line IIIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken on line IVIV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a development of the portion of the cutting roller shown inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a section similar to FIGURE 4 of a modification of thecutting roller providing for a rectilinear tangential guidance of theblanks between the cutting roller and the counter roller; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 6.

To simplify the illustration, only those components of thewindow-cutting device are illustrated which are essential to theunderstanding of the invention. In particular, the counter roller of thedevice and the guide means for feeding the blanks to the device are notillustrated.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4 in detail, there is shown a cutting roller1 having journals or tr-unnions 2 and 3 which are journalled in rolleror ball bearings 4. The bearings are mounted in the side walls 5 of theframe structure of the window'cutting device which should be visualizedas part of an envelope or bag-making machine. The machine itself is nowshown as it does not constitute part of the invention. Roller 1 isdriven by means of a gear 6. The hub '7 of the gear is slotted orprovided with a clamping cover so that after loosening of set screws 8,the entire window-cutting roller may be rotated for adjusting thepositions of the window-cutting knives with respect to the blanks fedthrough the envelope making machine.

Roller 1 mounts a shell or sleeve segment 9 secured to the roller bysuitable fastening means such as screws (not shown). Three closed orcontinuous window-cutting knives 10, 11 and 12 are secured upon segment9 by screws 13, or other fastening means. A slotted ring 15 is seated onjournal 2 closely adjacent to the roller and is secured in position by ascrew 14. A ring 16 is seated on journal 3 and is rotatable on the samewithout play. Both ring-s 15 and 16 mount a segment-a1 member 18, whichis secured to the rings by screws 17. As it is apparent, segment 18 canbe turned on journals 2 and 3 in reference to segment 9 after looseningscrews 17 and can be secured in any selected angular position byre-tightening of screws 17. A scaled or calibrated ring 19 is fixedlysecured on journal 2 and coacts with a pointer 18' on segment 18 tofacilitate the setting of segment 18 for a selected angular position.

Each of the window-cutting knives has in its area bounded by the cuttingedges of the knives a row of ports 10, 1'1 and 12'. These bounded areasare recessed in the roller and the ports in these areas are located nearthe forward edge of the knives as seen in the rotational direction ofthe roller. The ports extend through the wall of shell segment 91andissue in grooves 10", 11" and 12" formed in the inner peripheral wall ofthe shell segment (see FIG. 5). Journal 2 has three axial bores 20, 2 1and 22 which are connected through cross bore-s 20, 21' and 22' whichthe grooves 10'', 11, and 12" and the ports 10, 11 and 12'.

On the outer end of journal 2 there is rotatably seated a control headfor controlling the flow of suction air and the pressure air acting uponthe ports within the areas defined by the window-cutting knives. Thecontrol head comprises a stationary casing 23 with a suction airconnector 24 and a pressure air connector 25. The casing is securedagainst rotation by a pin engaged with a fork 26. A sleeve 35 and a ballbearing 36 are fixedly mounted Within the casing. The sleeve is providedwith three suction lair slots 27, three pressure air slots 23 andfurther with a circumferentially elongated opening 29. Journal 2 mountsthree control rings 30, 31, and 32, which are fixedly held in positionby set screws 33 threaded through sleeve 35 and accessible throughopening 2 9. The control rings have ports 30, 31' and 32' each locatedin registry with the respective suction air slot 27 and arcuatecircumferent-ially extended grooves 30", 31", 32''. These grooves areopen only on the side facing the opening of the control head in whichjournal 2 is seated. Radial bores 20, 2 1", and 22" connect arcuategrooves 30", 31" and 32 to axial bores 20, 21 and 22. Accordinglyseparate air conduits are provided: leading from the ports '10 withinthe area defined by window-cutting knife 11) through a duct 10 and thebores 20', 20 and 29" to port 30 in control ring 30; from the ports 11within the area defined by window-cutting knife 11 through a duct 11"and the bores 21', 2'1 and 21" to the port 31' in control ring 31; andalso from ports 12 within the area defined by window-cutting knife 12through a duct 12" and the bores 22', 2-2 and 22" to the port 32 incontrol ring 32.

The entire control head is secured on journal 2 against axial placementby a locking ring 34. The axial bores 20, 21 and 22 are closed by plugs37 at the end of journal 2. When the cutting roller rotates, the controlrings 30, 31 and 32 secured on journal 2 also rotate in the direction ofthe arrow within the stationary sleeve 35. Slots 27 of this sleeve areconnected with suction air connector 24 through groove 24 and slots 28of sleeve are connected with the pressure air connector 25 through thegroove 25'.

FIG. 3 shows that port 31 and the ports 11 of cutting knives 11connected therewith receive suction air for sucking on window cutoutswhen and while the port 31' travels below the respective slot 27 ofstationary sleeve 35 and receive pressure air for removing thepreviously sucked on window cutouts as soon as port 31 passes beloW slot28. By turning control ring 31 on journal 2 after loosening screw 3-3,the moment of time at which the suction air and the pressure airrespectively begin to take effect may be accurately adjusted inaccordance with the posit-ion of the cutting knife on the cuttingroller. The arrangement is substantially the same for the two othercutting knives '10 and 12 and ports 10' and 12' thereof.

Sleeve segment 18 includes a number of suction ports 38 which areconnected through an axial bore 39 and a radial bore 40 with a circulargroove 41 formed in the wall of the opening for receiving mounting ring16 seated on journal 3. Circular groove 41 is connected through a radialbore 42, an axial bore 43 and a radial bore 44 with a member 45 fixedlyseated on journal 3 for rotation in unison thereof and constituting partof a control head of conventional design and not describe-d in detail.The control head further comprises a stationary member 46 and a suctionair connector 47 for periodically connecting ports 38 for eachrevolution of the cutting roller with the suction air to grip a blank 58at its leading edge and carry it along and disconnecting the ports fromthe suct-ion air to release the gripped blank.

Instead of varying the circumferential distance between the row ofsuction ports 38 of shell segment 18 and the cutting knives 10, 11 and'12 by turning segment 18 together with its mounted rings 15 and 16, thesetting of the distance can also be effected by mounting 18 fixedly onroller 1 and rotating sleeve 9. Both these arrangements are within thescope of the invention.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7which is particularly suitable for cutting windows out of blanks whichare guided along a rectilinear tangential path, this second embodimentis distinguished from the previously described embodiment primarily bythe different structural configuration of shell segment 18 and theomission of suction ports 38 and the means 39 to 47 required forcontrolling the suction air supply to ports 38. Segment 18 is replacedby a shell segment 48 which is mounted on rings 15 and 16 similar tosegment 18 and is adjustable in accordance with the dimensions of theblanks to be out. A pointer and a scale similar to the one described inconnection with the previous figures are preferably provided.

Segment 48 mounts a row of springy deflectors 49 which may be in theform of leaf springs seated in grooves 50 and secured therein bysuitable fasteners such as screws 51.

The free ends of deflector springs 49 protrude slightly beyond theperipheral outline of cutting roller 1 to prevent a sticking ofrectilinearly traveling blanks along the leading edge thereof on thecutting roller. Such sticking tends to deflect the blanks out of therectilinear path. The same purpose could be obtained by supplyingpressure air to the ports 38 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1through 5 instead of suction air as described. However, such anarrangement is considerably more expensive and more complex than theabove described and illustrated provision of suction ports and springydeflectors.

As it is evident, the number of the knives, the structural design andmounting of the knives and also the structural arrangement of thecontrol means for controlling the suction air and the pressure airsupply to the ports associated with the knives can be changed in severalrespects Without departing from the concept of the invention.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certainnoW preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in theappended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A window-cutting device for cutting several windows into blanks forenvelopes and flat bags, said cutting device comprising, in combination,a rotary cutting roller and a counter roller for successively feedingblanks to be cut therebetween, several closed cutting knives mounted onsaid cutting roller, said cutting roller including ports in each of thesurface areas bounded by said knives, ducts for connecting the ports ofeach knife with a supply of suction air and ducts for connecting saidports with a supply of pressure air, control means actuated by saidrotary cutting roller and controlling said ducts for sequentiallyconnecting said ports at predetermined time intervals with said suctionducts and said pressure ducts and for disconnecting said ports at saidpredetermined time intervals from said ducts, timing means coacting withsaid control means for varying said time intervals independently for theports of each of the said knives, guide means supported on theperipheral wall of said cutting roller for guiding the leading edge ofeach blank to be cut, and setting means for varying the circumferentialposition of said guide means in reference to said cutting knives.

2. A window-cutting device according to claim 1 wherein said controlmeans comprise a control head having a stationary casing, severalcontrol rings, one for each cutting knife, rotatably mounted within saidcasing and coupled with said cutting roller for rotation in unisontherewith, each of said control rings alternately connecting saidsuction and pressure ducts to the ports of the respective cutting knifeand disconnecting the same therefrom at said predetermined timeintervals.

3. A window-cutting device according to claim 2 wherein said cuttingroller has a bearing journal and said control rings are seated on saidjournal, and setting means coacting with said control rings for varyingthe angular position thereof in reference to the respective cuttingknife.

4. A window-cutting device according to claim 1 wherein said guide meanscomprise a member including suc tion ports, conduit means for connectingsaid ports to a source of suction, said ports being positioned to gripthe leading edge of the blank to be cut, and mounting means supported bysaid member pivotal about the rotational axis of the cutting roller forvarying the spacing of the suction ports of said member in reference tothe cutting knives.

5. A Window-cutting device according to claim 4 and comprising acalibrated element and an indicating element coacting with the saidcalibrated element, one of said elements being stationary and the otherelement being movable With said pivotal member for indicating theangular position of said member on said calibrated element.

6. A window-cutting device according to claim 1 wherein said guide meanscomprises a member pivotal about the rotational axis of said cuttingroller, and springy deflector means mounted on said member fordeflecting the leading edge of a blank to be cut away from said cuttingroller.

7. A window-cutting device according to claim 1 wherein said guide meanscomprises a member including suction ports, conduit means for connectingsaid ports to a source of suction, said suction ports being positionedto grip the leading edge of the blank to be cut, and means for pivotingsaid cutting knife about the rotational axis of said cutting roller tovary the angular position of said cutting knives in reference to thesuction ports of said member.

8. A window-cutting device according to claim 1 wherein said guide meanscomprises a support member, springy deflector means mounted on saidmember for deflecting the leading edge of a blank to be cut away fromsaid cutting roller, and means for pivoting the cutting knives about therotational axis of said cutting roller to vary the angular positions ofsaid knives in reference to the suction ports of said member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,855 11/1942Hallman 83-400 2,383,523 8/1945 Thornburgh 83-98 3,106,121 10/1963Novick 83152 FOREIGN PATENTS 946,734 1/ 1964 Great Britain.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. L. B. TAYLOR, AssistantExaminer.

1. A WINDOW-CUTTING DEVICE FOR CUTTING SEVERAL WINDOWS INTO BLANKS FORENVELOPE AND FLAT BAGS, SAID CUTTING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION,A ROTARY CUTTING ROLLER AND A COUNTER ROLLER FOR SUCCESSIVELY FEEDINGBLANKS TO BE CUT THEREBETWEEN, SEVERAL CLOSED CUTTING KNIVES MOUNTED ONSAID CUTTING ROLLER, SAID CUTTING ROLLER INCLUDING PORTS IN EACH OF THESURFACE AREAS BOUNDED BY SAID KNIVES, DUCTS FOR CONNECTING THE PORTS OFEACH KNIFE WITH A SUPPLY OF SUCTION AIR AND DUCTS FOR CONNECTING SAIDPORTS WITH A SUPPLY OF PRESSURE AIR, CONTROL MEANS ACTUATED BY SAIDROTARY CUTTING ROLLER AND CONTROLLING SAID DUCTS FOR SEQUENTIALLYCONNECTING SAID PORTS AT PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVALS WITH SAID SUCTIONDUCTS AND SAID PRESSURE DUCTS AND FOR DISCONNECTING SAID PORTS AT SAIDPREDETERMINED TIME INTERVALS FROM SAID DUCTS, TIMING MEANS COACTING WITHSAID CONTROL MEANS FOR VARYING SAID TIME INTERVALS INDEPENDENTLY FOR THEPORTS OF EACH OF THE SAID KNIVES, GUIDE MEANS SUPPORTED ON THEPERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID CUTTING ROLLER FOR GUIDING THE LEADING EDGE OFEACH BLANK TO BE CUT, AND SETTING MEANS FOR VARYING THE CIRCUMFERENTIALPOSITION OF SAID GUIDE MEANS IN REFERENCE TO SAID CUTTING KNIVES.